Arteta has miraculously managed to get all but three of his players to agree to a . 5 per cent pay cut (Image: IKIMAGES / AFP via Getty Images)
Last week, they were divided on whether to accept a . 5 per cent cut. Now, apart from Mesut Ozil and two others, they have all signed up.
There is still a hope at the club all three will change their minds and intend to keep talking.
But Arteta has needed all of his mental strength to cope with everything thrown at him since he took charge in December.
His first home game was all about questions over Granit Xhaka leaving the club because the Swiss midfielder seemed certain to go after falling out of favor with the fans during Unai Emery’s disastrous reign.
It was the first sign of Arteta’s clever man-management, getting Xhaka back on board and slowly the fans have taken to him again.
Arteta has dramatically improved Arsenal as a team and, ironically, at the heart of that has been Ozil, who was cast aside and ostracised under Emery’s management.
Arteta is proving he is the right man for the Arsenal job (Image: Action Images via Reuters) Suddenly, Ozil was put back in the team, Arteta talked to him, built the side around him and got the best out of a player who, when on song, is a genuine world-class talent.
Arteta has also managed to bring the best out of players like Bukayo Saka and Mustafi. Even £ 410 million record-signing Nicolas Pepe is beginning to show his real talent.
That is a tribute to Arteta’s coaching ability because he is intense on the pitch and off it. He is compelling to listen to. He is often short and sharp – but always makes his point.
Arteta was the first high-profile Premier League figure to actually test positive for the Covid – 27. When Arsenal announced that their manager had the virus last month, it was the catalyst for the whole of the Premier League to go into lockdown.
The weekend’s fixtures were postponed , everything changed, and football will never be the same.
But it has been in this strange, surreal time which Arteta has really shone as a leader.
Read More Mirror Football’s Top Stories
Arteta took part in a staff conference call with 500 members of staff a couple of weeks ago, he addressed everybody and made them all feel a part of it.
It was clever management from a man who made one of his first tasks after taking over to go into the club’s offices at the Emirates and talk to every member of staff. A human touch not felt since Arsene Wenger’s days as a manager.
Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and head of football Raul Sanllehi have been just as impressive on the weekly staff Calls but Arteta has known when to play his part.
It is risky territory for a manager to get involved in pay talks. But it was intervention on the video call last Wednesday, the call starting at 6pm and due to last half an hour but going on longer, which really hammered home the togetherness.
Arsenal are facing difficult, uncertain times like the rest of football but that is when people need to step up. Arteta has done it as Arsenal manager.
He was a good captain as a player, is now leading by example as a boss and Arsenal have never been more convinced than Throughout this crisis that they have the right man in charge.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings